Israeli PM Netanyahu officially indicted for corruption

An indictment charging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with corruption was officially submitted on Monday.

Israeli Attorney General Avihai Mendelblit publicly released the indictment, allowing a period of 30 days during which the long-time leader may request the parliament to grant him immunity from standing trial.

The 77-page indictment charges Netanyahu with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate corruption scandals.

According to the indictment, the trial will be held at the Jerusalem District Court.

The date of the trial has yet to be published.

The document contains a list of 333 witnesses the prosecution may call to testify against Netanyahu, including Sheldon Adelson, an American Jewish business magnate and one of U.S. President Donald Trump’s major donors, and Arnon Milchan, an Israeli billionaire and Hollywood producer, and other businessmen and politicians.

Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, saying the indictment is part of “an orchestrated witch hunt.”

He is the first Israeli prime minister who was served with an indictment while being in office.

Read alsoJewish federation welcomes opening of Hungarian foreign trade mission in Jerusalem

Source: Xinhua – JERUSALEM